O’Shea Calls for Extension of EV Scrappage Scheme in Budget 2027

Cork North West TD says strong demand for ICE2EV pilot shows motorists are ready to make the switch to electric

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, Deputy John Paul O’Shea, is calling on the Minister for Transport to build on the success of the ICE2EV pilot scheme and provide for its continuation and expansion in Budget 2027.

The pilot scheme, which launched on 1 July, provides a €5,000 grant to motorists who scrap an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle aged over 13 years and replace it with a new battery electric vehicle. This is in addition to the existing €3,500 SEAI electric vehicle grant.

The level of demand for the pilot was significant, with around 2,000 successful applications received within just 75 minutes of the scheme opening.

Deputy O’Shea said this demonstrates the strong appetite among motorists to transition away from older petrol and diesel vehicles and that Government should now look at how the scheme can be extended.

“The extraordinary level of interest in the ICE2EV pilot scheme shows that there is a real appetite among motorists to make the switch from older petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles. With around 2,000 successful applications within just 75 minutes, it is clear that the allocation available under this pilot was quickly taken up.

“I believe the Government should now examine the progression of this scheme as part of Budget 2027, building on what has been a very successful pilot.

Deputy O’Shea added “For many households, particularly those who depend on their car every day, the upfront cost of changing to an electric vehicle can be a significant barrier. A targeted scrappage incentive can help bridge that gap and make the transition more affordable.

“This is particularly important in rural communities such as those across Cork North West, where people can have a greater reliance on private transport because of the distances involved in accessing employment, education and essential services.

Deputy O’Shea also stressed that incentives for EV ownership must be accompanied by continued investment in charging infrastructure.

“If we are serious about increasing the number of electric vehicles on our roads, we also need to make sure that people have confidence in the charging network. We need more public charging points right across the country, including in rural towns and villages, and we need better access to charging facilities for those who cannot charge an electric vehicle at home.

“The transition to electric vehicles will only work if motorists have confidence that they can charge their vehicle conveniently and affordably wherever they live and travel. Ireland has set ambitious targets for the electrification of our transport fleet, including the objective of having 30% of the national vehicle fleet electric by 2030.

“The strong uptake of this pilot scheme tells us that motorists are willing to make that transition. Government should respond to that demand by extending the ICE2EV scheme in Budget 2027 and ensuring that people in both rural and urban communities can benefit.

“We should take the lessons from this pilot, build on its success and give more motorists the opportunity to move away from older, more polluting vehicles and into cleaner electric vehicles.”

Deputy O’Shea said he will continue to press the Minister for Transport to ensure that the future of the ICE2EV scheme is considered as part of the Budget 2027 process.